If an AD requires action but the aircraft cannot be safely operated to complete the action, what should the IA do?

If an AD requires action but the aircraft cannot be safely operated to complete the action, what should the IA do?

• A. Postpone action indefinitely without documentation.
• B. Follow FAA guidance, arrange the action, document the plan, and ensure the aircraft is not operated until compliance is achieved.
• C. Ignore the AD until the next maintenance interval.
• D. Proceed with the action in a test flight.

Answer: (B)

When an AD requires action but the aircraft cannot be safely operated to complete that action, the IA must use approved FAA guidance to develop a plan and keep the aircraft grounded until compliance is achieved. This means coordinating with the appropriate maintenance personnel and the AD sponsor or manufacturer to determine a feasible approach, including whether an approved alternative method of compliance (AMOC) or other FAA guidance can be used, and scheduling the work accordingly. The plan and its documentation should clearly outline what will be done, who will do it, and the expected completion date, with explicit instructions that the aircraft must not be operated until the AD action is completed. Grounding the aircraft and documenting the plan ensures continuing airworthiness and compliance with the directive, preventing operation with a known nonconformity. Postponing indefinitely, ignoring the AD, or attempting a test flight without completing the required action would compromise safety and violate regulatory requirements.

When an AD requires action but the aircraft cannot be safely operated to complete that action, the IA must use approved FAA guidance to develop a plan and keep the aircraft grounded until compliance is achieved. This means coordinating with the appropriate maintenance personnel and the AD sponsor or manufacturer to determine a feasible approach, including whether an approved alternative method of compliance (AMOC) or other FAA guidance can be used, and scheduling the work accordingly. The plan and its documentation should clearly outline what will be done, who will do it, and the expected completion date, with explicit instructions that the aircraft must not be operated until the AD action is completed. Grounding the aircraft and documenting the plan ensures continuing airworthiness and compliance with the directive, preventing operation with a known nonconformity. Postponing indefinitely, ignoring the AD, or attempting a test flight without completing the required action would compromise safety and violate regulatory requirements.